Human Resources

🤝 Pita Pit appointed Meghan Haugen as Chief Operating Officer, to oversee Operations, Marketing, and Franchising departments and support company growth. Haugen, with nearly 20 years of experience, previously held various leadership roles at Pita Pit. CEO Peter Riggs commends her hard work and dedication. Haugen's focus will be on operational efficiencies, continuous improvement, and franchising success.

💸 Meghan Haugen has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Mediterranean fast-casual brand Pita Pit. With nearly 20 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Haugen will oversee Operations, Marketing, and Franchising. CEO Peter Riggs highlights her strategic vision and operational expertise, which are pivotal for the company's continued customer and franchisee growth. Haugen's focus will be on enhancing operational efficiencies and driving continuous improvement initiatives within Pita Pit’s franchise network.

📦 Bob Gilbert retired from HSMAI after 30 years of leadership. Rajit Sukumaran expanded his role at IHG in East Asia & Pacific, while Vivek Bhalla was promoted within IHG. Jon Gustin became VP of Operations at Commonwealth Hotels, with over 15 years' experience. Angela Showley was named VP of Marketing and Revenue at Kessler. Marriott appointed Sam Basu as area GM in Puerto Rico and GM of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan. Anton Moore returned to EDITION Hotels as GM for The Lake Como EDITION, opening in 2025. Alex Drown became Director of Sales at The Newman, opening in spring. Marc Boussaire was named Executive Chef at Viewline Resort Snowmass. James Cassidy took the role of Executive Chef at All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar, Hotel 1000. Arturo Elias became Chef de Cuisine at Conrad Washington, DC's Estuary Restaurant. Reyn Nishizuka was appointed Chef de Cuisine at The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Oliver Riding became GM of Camelback Golf Club at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. Hotel Per La appointed Kayleen Morgan, George Unseld, and Joey Roacho to its leadership team. Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, added Christian Clair, Roberto Picado, and Sagar Gaikwad to its culinary team. Highgate's Royal Lahaina Resort

📅 Mews appoints Michael Coscetta as president, leveraging his experience from Paxos and Compass. Virgin Hotels Collection names Johanna Kent Chief People Officer with 27 years in the field and Leo Rotshteyn Global Head of Revenue Management with over 30 years of experience. AutoCamp welcomes Bryan Terzi as CMO, who has over two decades of marketing experience and launched 12 hotels at Sage Hospitality. The Indigo Road Hospitality Group appoints Katharine Ames as CMO, previously their Director of Marketing since 2021. Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows expands its team with Edward C. Braunlich as Managing Director, Yvette Kitagawa as Hotel Manager, and MaryAnn Blanchard as Director of Sales. Capella Hotel Group announces John Blanco and Ellen Franke as GMs for new Japan locations. Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort names Judd Rabbidge GM. Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger appoints Sootaga “So’o” Tana as GM for three properties. Sam Basu becomes AGM of Puerto Rico and GM of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan for Marriott International. Iconic Luxury Hotels names Samantha Rieu GM of two London hotels. The Newman hires Alex Drown as Director of Sales for its 2025 opening. Kessler brings on Angela Showley as VP of Marketing and Revenue. Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar welcome Kasidy DeWitt

📈 Katharine Ames has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at Indigo Road Hospitality Group, after serving as Director of Marketing since 2021. Her previous roles include Vice President of Public Relations at Phase 3 Marketing & Communications and Media Relations Specialist at Huff & Co. Ames is based in Atlanta, reporting to Steve Palmer, the founder of Indigo Road established in 2009. The company, headquartered in Charleston, S.C., boasts 35 restaurants across 14 markets and operates six hotels.

🏠 Katharine Ames appointed as Chief Marketing Officer at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group in Charleston, South Carolina. Ames joined the company in 2021 and reports to founder Steve Palmer. Prior to IRHG, she spent eight years at a boutique agency, eventually becoming vice president. IRHG, founded in 2009, has expanded to 35 restaurants in 14 markets and six hotels with four more in development. Ames's role includes overseeing marketing, internal communications, public relations, programming, branding, partnerships, and social media.

🏨 Michael Coscetta appointed President of Mews, a hospitality cloud company in New York on 23 July. He oversees marketing, commercial, and customer success teams amid the company's growth. Coscetta's background includes roles at Paxos, Compass, and Square, with achievements such as preparing for Compass's 2021 IPO and scaling revenues to $2B. Mews, after a $110m funding round in March, employs 1,100 staff across 20 countries and has acquired HS3 Hotelsoftware.

🏨 Sandpiper Hospitality named manager of ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham Spartanburg in South Carolina, the first in its brand, opened earlier this month. The hotel offers 124 suites with kitchenettes, near Westgate Mall, Carolina Panthers Training Camp, and downtown Spartanburg. Amenities include a gym, laundry, and EV charging. Sandpiper manages over 10 brands and added 15 properties in the past year, including locations in Colorado, Nevada, Georgia, San Francisco, Anaheim, and Washington D.C.

🍴 Chef-owner Ryan Blackburn will not renew Kysty's lease, with its final service on July 26. He plans to open two new ventures in Ambleside: 'The Schelly,' a casual dining restaurant with 24+6 seats, and 'Workshop at The Old Stamp House,' a private dining space seating eight. Both are set to open mid-late August and will retain the Kysty team.

📢 Lost Boys Chicken, founded in 2015, closed its standalone restaurant on York Place due to post-Covid market shifts favoring home dining, economic pressures, and other challenges. Owner Tomas Samandi announced the closure as the hardest decision of his career and has relaunched the business at The Joker, its original pop-up location. Encouraging local support, Samandi suggests customers pick up orders instead of using delivery services to better benefit local businesses.